sadly, we currently have no touring plans. however, we do occasional solo- and duo-acoustic performances, so please keep an eye out on the home page & facebook. we are also open to offers that allow us to put a band together, rehearse and travel to play shows.

bio:

Singer/guitarist Paul Durham started the San Francisco alt.pop.rock band Black Lab in 1997 and released its critically acclaimed debut Your Body Above Me on Geffen Records. Following a national tour, two charting singles (‘Wash it Away’ and ‘Time Ago’), hot MTV action and way too many trashed hotel rooms, the band split up.

After signing with Epic Records in 2000, Durham started a new chapter of Black Lab with LA guitarist/programmer Andy Ellis. The band’s second album, See the Sun, featured ‘Learn to Crawl’ from Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man soundtrack.

The band has had much success leveraging its independent status through social media campaigns (“Bumrush the Charts”), YouTube stunts (the “Transformers” cover), and a wildly successful Kickstarter — all through the dedication and long-term commitment of its fans.

music

Instrumentals_chill

Live at Mercury Lounge

A Raven Has My Heart

Best of the MP3 of the Month Club

Two Strangers

Unplugged

Give Us Sugar: b-sides

Passion Leaves a Trace

Technologie

See The Sun

Your Body Above Me

Stray Palace EPs

Paul Solo: 10M Years

blacklab scrapbook

welcome to the monthly Black Lab Scrapbook. Black Lab has seen a lot through out the years and we thought it would be fun to dig through all the old photos, scraps and archives and share them with you. while making fun of Paul's make up, of course. hope you enjoy them! the latest one is displayed here, you can scroll through and download higher resolution versions from the side column

November 27th, 2009

Tiia put these together from various images she found in a box (above: polaroid tests of the band’s 1998 photo shoot, weird clipping of guy with elk horns for wings, lyrics from ybam, and a beautiful piece of marketing history: “Time heals all playlists,” from a Geffen trade ad promoting the ‘time ago’ drop date, back in the day when there were such thing as radio trade magazines. adorable).

above: flyers from my pre-black lab acoustic-based band (featured on “10 Million Years”). hotel utah was the first place I ever played in San Francisco. an excellent little dive. note the “returned for better address” stamp; even back then I was a very details-oriented. cassettes rule!

above: official geffen flyer from the first album & tour, red flyer for the Red Devil Lounge acoustic show in SF, promo pic (note Brian’s face — he woke up the morning of the photo shoot with that syndrome where half of your face goes completely slack, like some kind of mini-stroke. we gave him a lot of shit for it while hoping it wasn’t permanent. it wasn’t). stripper mascot for the black lab RV segment of the tour. not sure where we got this polaroid — whether it was given to us (probably Michael) or we pilfered it, but this girl was taped to the front headboard of our RV for nearly a year, boldly leading us into the unknown, giving us succor and sanctuary when we most needed it. also, nice black stationary someone made us for some event I can’t remember.

My husband Mike grew up with Paul and he introduced me to your music last night. LOVE IT!!!!! I actually remember Long Ago! Classic! How exciting Mike was a childhood friend. Keep on keeping on and hopefully one day you may play close to Twin Falls. Just love your music!!!!

Quick question: Could you tell me when the new Stray Palace song “Go” will be up on Itunes. I want to send it as an Itunes “gift” to someone, as it is one of my favorites. Thanks a lot for any info you can give me!

I think we may need to reform the Black Lab Army, we’re literally going years between speaking. I’ve had a lot going on but things should be settled now, I hope to be back on here again. Lilla I will never move away from Black Lab they are in the blood that runs through my veins. Good to see you’re still around.

I’ve been hunting for Two Strangers and Passion Leaves a Trace on vinyl record. Does anyone know if these exist? If so where can I find them, I collect vinyl and I’m trying to find some of my more current favorite bands.

Within the last 3 weeks I have purchased all of your music from online. I listen constantly and recommend you daily to others. I would love to see you in person one day. Thank you for gifting us with your talents!!

I’ve had “Down to the River” stuck in my head all day. Went with the obvious solution and listened to A New World five or so more times (that’s about the average since I got my hands on it, it’s been helping get me through finals).

Thank you for the years of music, hope to some day manage to catch you live 🙂

I’ve been listening to A New World daily and it is getting better, like the others, every single time I listen. Love what you have done once again by intertwining the words with sincere emotion. I lost my father this November and this CD arrived just in time to help lift my spirits and help me deal. Thank you Paul & Andy, for the music and for the DVD you threw in. It was indeed glorious to see you both in action at the Mercury Lounge. Your music makes a difference, thanks again.